Canadians Love Their Online News, But Not If They Have To Pay

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 09:07 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Researchers at the University of British Columbia have found what Opinion250 readers already know - Canadians prefer to get their news online, but only if they don't have to pay for it.

In an online survey of nearly 1700 adults earlier this year, 81-percent said they would not pay to read news online and 90-percent said they would find a free alternative if they're preferred news source started charging for its content.

The study is the first in a research series for the Canadian Media Research Consortium (CMRC), in cooperation with Vision Critical, an online research company. Lead author, Donna Logan, says "These results should give pause to any news corporations in Canada or abroad that are considering erecting paywalls around their content."

If no free alternative news websites were available, only 30-percent of survey participants said they would be willing to pay for news only. Logan says, “Online news consumers, long used to getting their news free when production costs were mostly subsidized by print and broadcast advertising, are balking at the idea of having to pay for content now that revenues are falling below the level needed to sustain media operations across various platforms.”

The results come on the heels of a new online pay system that The New York Times launched in Canada on March 17. “The New York Times is revered by many readers for its quality,” says Logan, CMRC President, “so if its paywall system defies the odds and succeeds, these findings suggest it would be an exception, rather than a model to follow.”

When compared to recent international studies, the findings suggest Canadians have a slightly greater opposition to paywalls than people in the U.S. and UK.

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Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 09:07 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: He spoke on April 13 2011 9:50 AM

Kind of hard to close the Pandora Box now. It has been free up to now, all the advertisers are paying for it.

So, if some of the sites start charging, than the free ones will really get popular. Its all about the number of hits and blogger #'s.

Would I pay $24.00 a year to have the right to blog on this site, probably. Accepting being booted off for 168 hrs for inappropriate comments.

Would I pay $50.00, likely not.

Posted by: JjayJ on April 13 2011 10:21 AM

I think the most important aspect of this article, is the fact that we prefer to find news that doesn't have its' own political slant, news that is reported fairly and accurately. This is why I go to the web for news. Hard to find a newspaper or radio station that doesn't cater to a particular poliitcal opinion.

Posted by: Vulgar Sage on April 13 2011 10:21 AM

I`v had comments removed but if I have to pay I want to say what I want with out getting booted or comments removed...
And I do come to these sites to check ads at time also..so they cant say the ads aren`t pay off...

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 13 2011 10:30 AM

It would really depend on the site, as to whether or not I would pay.
I might pay for this one,depending on how much it was,of course.
Mainstrean media is a disaster.
They have become so politically driven and controlling that it is pathetic.
Media services like Global,CTV,even CBC, are too politically involved and biased.
Global is without a doubt,one of the worst..IMO.
I never feel like they are giving all parties a fair shake...only the ones that they support.
There is always a slant,(usually to the Liberals,federal and provincial)and to what suits them.
I agree with He spoke...the ones that think they can charge for what they offer are only going to drive business away.
If nobody is reading what they have to publish,it will show up in the advertizing revenue.
Bad idea!

Posted by: He spoke on April 13 2011 10:49 AM

There are limitations to the blog sites. They are regulated, I think by CRTC. During the election, The blog sites have to be careful what gets put on the website, eventhough it is coming from the bloggers. Essentially, Opinion 250 owns the site, and what ever is on this site, they ultimately become responsible for it.

I am quite sure, that Ben and Elaine has had some moments from operating this blog site. I am sure it is being monitored by Authorities and the RCMP.

You really do not have anonimity on your comments. Ben and Elaine knows who you are, and so would the Authorities and the RCMP. The only anonimity you have is against fellow bloggers.

Posted by: verballabel on April 13 2011 10:49 AM

I would like to thank Ben and the news reporters for Opinion 250 for providing us with this great site! You always provide us with up to date news and great forum for us to give our opinions on. Keep up the great work!

Thanks Again!

Posted by: Dragonmaster on April 13 2011 11:38 AM

I've stopped using many websites in the past once they started charging a fee and I will continue to do so in the future.

Posted by: Vulgar Sage on April 13 2011 12:33 PM

And I dont use adblock..so anyone who wants your business info known advertise here...I`ll check out your site...

Posted by: He spoke on April 13 2011 2:11 PM

So much of the information that is available in the daily rag is definitely slanted towards the biggest advertisers interests. If you want to say something, you can not tell it to a reporter, you have to take an advertisement out in the paper and pay for it yourself.

The truth is usually so far buried in the print, that one has to make their own conclusion on what is real and what is fabrication.

Posted by: northman on April 13 2011 3:00 PM

lol, they had to do a survey to figure this out?

Posted by: whatintheheck on April 13 2011 5:50 PM

I would not pay for online news. I would find it somewhere else.....

Posted by: gus on April 14 2011 8:11 AM

"I would not pay for online news. I would find it somewhere else....."

PSSST .... did you hear what Jimmy just mentioned he observed downtown last night? The restaurant he was in was visited by the Ministry of Health and after 10 minutes, everyone was asked to leave the restaurant, were escorted out, and the doors were shut. Sure wonder what that was all about.

Hey, you know someone in the Ministry. Do you if you phoned her she would tell you what that was all about?